Most are conformists who believe that authority = truth

[Winston]

Most people are conformists and followers, not independent free thinkers. They were conditioned to believe that "authority = truth" and is therefore never to be questioned. In school, they were raised in a behavioral conditioning environment where following and doing what one was told led to reward and merit, while defiance and non-compliance led to punishment and ridicule. (Such a system's purpose is to condition the population to become efficient slaves and producers) In this system, they found purpose and meaning in aligning their interests with that of established interests. Hence anything that challenges orthodoxy makes them uncomfortable. They've developed a psychological block against it. That's what makes them tick.

In school, you are taught that "critical thinking" means to refute and ridicule anything that opposes the establishment or status quo, but never the status quo itself. A true skeptic can rise above that and apply skepticism and critical thought toward established orthodoxy, but a pseudo-skeptic cannot. Instead, the pseudo-skeptic follows the school system's form of "critical thinking", applying it only to those who oppose orthodoxy in defense of the status quo.

In that sense, they are in reality "establishment defenders" rather than true skeptics. That is why they NEVER challenge, criticize or scrutinize their government or any part of the establishment, including the pharmaceutical companies, CIA or FBI, even if logic, facts, evidence or moral cause dictates that they should.

To these establishment defenders, authority = truth, and as such is always blameless in their eyes. That is their religion, so hence, all their skills, talents and knowledge is used to serve their true God - orthodoxy establishment. In their view, establishment authority can do no wrong, even if they murder, traffick drugs, steal, lie, stage terrorist attacks, start wars by funding both sides, etc.

What this means is that these pseudo-skeptics or establishment defenders, which are commonly featured in the mainstream media, do not serve truth as their master. As such, they cannot see the truth or do what's right, but in fact, are even willing to lie and deceive to serve their establishment masters (there are so many documented cases of this). Thus they are not "free" in any sense of the word, nor honest, which is sad.

This is why not only are they closed minded against anything to do with paranormal phenomena, but are vehemently opposed to all claims of government conspiracies as well, no matter how well supported, for it offends their "true master" (which is not truth).

Examples of famous pseudo-skeptics and establishment defenders: (Check them all out and you will see that their actions fit the above description)

- James Randi and his JREF crowd
- Michael Shermer
- CSICOP and their crowd
- Penn and Teller and their "Bullshit" show (pun intended) which is an insult to one's intelligence
- The Mythbusters
- Phil Plait and his "Bad Astronomy" folks

[momopi]

The quickest way to have people question authority is a sex scandal.